All the news that's fit to chew in the Cape Fear region

While Wilmington remained frozen out of the 2017 list of James Beard Awards Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists, North Carolina as a whole is well represented. The crop of nominees was whittled down from more than 24,000 online entries. With no further ado, here are the semifinalists and their respective categories: Outstanding Baker Phoebe Lawless, Scratch, Durham Lionel Vatinet, La Farm Bakery, Cary Outstanding Chef Ashley Christensen, Poole’s Diner, Raleigh Andrea Reusing, Lantern, Chapel Hill Rising Star Chef of the Year… Read More »

It’s no big secret that vegetables of all shapes and sizes have been conquering increasingly large portions of our plates over the past few years. And the sheer mass of vegan, vegetarian and green-friendly cookbooks rolled out in response has been equally inundating. Among the titles I’ve enjoyed working through this fall, Peter Meehan’s “Power Vegetables! Turbocharged Recipes for Vegetables with Guts” is certainly the most entertaining — not to mention fun to actually cook from. A product from the same minds behind the… Read More »

Want to cook like the pros? Well, for starters, quit lusting over $300 knives, $600 blenders and that $1,200 full suite of All-Clad cookware. The gorgeous plates served up night after night in area eateries was, more likely than not, prepared on budget-friendly and nearly indestructible industry grade gear. Katie Stallings over at Cape Fear Restaurant Equipment has assembled a bundle of basics priced at a very friendly $15 including a lemon squeezer, paring knife, set of silicone tongs, sandwich spreader, vegetable peeler… Read More »

One can hardly be blamed for lumping all of Louisiana’s culinary traditions into one basket with the outsized influence of New Orleans. But if author, food blogger and photographer George Graham has any say in the matter, home cooks will soon understand the state’s diverse dining nuances after a read through his new cookbook, “Acadiana Table: Cajun and Creole Home Cooking from the Heart of Louisiana.” The title strolls through the foodways of southwest Louisiana with a focus on the area… Read More »

Some, as they say, like it hot. Generally speaking, I’m that guy. My spot at the dinner table? Immediately at my right hand sit bottles of Tabasco, Valentina, Tajín, Louisiana and, just for good measure, a shaker full of straight cayenne from the good folks over at Penzeys. And that’s just the room-temperature fire. Just as dependable, a local player has worked into my rotation of spicy indulgence. Candied jalapeño peppers from the Wilmington-based Cape Fear Pirate Candy have lived up to… Read More »

Remember that time you chomped into fractured bits of steel blades? The Facial lacerations, slashed gums, cracked teeth? If not, then good. And let’s keep it that way. Popular kitchen appliance manufacturer Cuisinart has issued a voluntary recall for 8 million food processors with faulty blades responsible for at least 30 such injuries. The recall includes numerous models sold from July 1996 to Dec. 2015. The full list of affected model numbers is available on the Cuisinart website, but the telltale give in each is a specific… Read More »

Drawing inspiration from New York City’s speakeasy-era hotel lobbies, Dram + Morsel will soon add tapas-style shared plates and craft cocktails to Wilmington’s nightlife. Co-owner Justin Smith said the new spot, located on the third floor of the building at 33 S. Front St. that also houses the Asian-inspired eatery YoSake and bar The Husk, would likely open before the end of the year. Smith said a new kitchen including a full ventilation system has been installed and that the business is currently hiring… Read More »

At this time last year it seemed like a nonstop flow of brewery news would dominate our headlines for the foreseeable future. But that was then. Now, it’s all about the doughnuts. The Cape Fear region is quickly becoming a hotbed of sugary fried joy with at least four new spots opening in recent weeks and more to come. Round Bagels & Donuts at 890 S. Kerr Ave. opened on Sept. 10. The shop specializes in bagels served plain, with a… Read More »

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew’s impact on the Caribbean, noted Wilmington chef Keith Rhodes has organized a relief effort that will send a shipping container of goods to Haiti and The Bahamas by way of south Florida next week. “A bunch of my friends live down in the Miami area, chefs from Haiti and the Bahamas,” Rhodes said. “The storm was absolutely devastating. They need everything — toothpaste, deodorant — anything helps.” Rhodes is accepting donations of water, nonperishable food items,… Read More »

Downtown is once again home to a doughnut shop with Friday’s opening of Wake N Bake Donuts at 114-A Princess St. The shop is a second location for the Carolina Beach-based business owned by Danny and Mandy Tangredi. The first day proved the Port City’s appetite for doughnuts hasn’t waned since the closing of 9 Bakery and Lounge in 2015, the most recent outfit to offer the morning staple. “We opened at 7:30 and sold a normal day’s worth of doughnuts… Read More »

A tropical storm tends to bring many cancelled dinner reservations along with the wind and rain. We’ll keep track of all the closings here so you don’t have to at home. If your restaurant or a favorite spot you know of is trimming hours or closing over the weekend in response to Hurricane Matthew, just drop a comment below or email Paul.Stephen@StarNewsOnline.com.

Apparently, cooking in miniature is now a thing. I don’t mean small batches, I mean small kitchens. As in doll-house sized. For a (very tiny) taste of what I’m talking about, check out the following microscopic renditions of everyone’s favorite childhood staple. Do you have a favorite food-related video? Send it my way and I’ll be sure to include it in our weekly roundup.

Garland is about an hour’s drive from Wilmington, but that hasn’t stopped many Cape Fear-area residents from following their noses to Southern Smoke BBQ. And owner Matthew Register has become a regular at the coast as well, appearing at events like the Wilmington Wine & Food Festival or guest chef engagements in area restaurants. It’s safe to say the already impressive line for his pork, brisket and ribs will get a little longer this weekend as the shop and chef will be… Read More »

Getting old doesn’t have to be a miserable affair. If not for birthdays, when else might one justify downing obscene quantities of cake? The folks at Apple Annie’s Bakeshop know this all too well. They’ve invited the community to come celebrate 31 years in business Friday Sept. 30 with a free slice. Swing by the original location at 837 S. Kerr Ave. from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. or the 1121 Military Cutoff Road store from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. for a sweet treat.

Week two of our relaunched Monday Food Porn operation is underway, and it’s pretty clear Cape Fear-area foodies have been busy in their collective kitchens. To recap, Monday Food Porn is a weekly celebration of cooking in Brunswick, Pender and New Hanover counties and open to home cooks, professional chefs, gardeners and anyone else who happens to snap a mouthwatering shot of their latest nibble be it a fresh fistful of berries or a bulky burrito. To participate, sent your photos… Read More »

Let’s face it — dogs aren’t picky. A week-old, half-molded burger from behind that Dumpster in the alley? That’s like canine crack cocaine. But good luck finding a veterinarian who endorses that kind of indulgence. Today’s doggies get only the best — a fact that’s hard to deny given the $62.5 billion the American Pets Products Association projects will be spent on creature comforts in the U.S. this year. But few of those kibbles, bones and chewies could be called local or even domestic.… Read More »

The Greeks Gourmet is expanding with a new location in the former Bojangles property at 4015 Market St. The new spot, which features a drive through, will be dubbed The Greeks Express. Yanni Papanikolaou, whose family operates the original downtown location and a newly opened Jacksonville restaurant, said the latest entry to the family’s chain of eateries will offer multiple types of gyro, shawarma and falafel in addition to several European-style sandwiches. Papanikolaou said renovations would begin next month with… Read More »

About This Blog

Howdy readers,

Welcome to the StarNews food blog – where we focus on the fine, not-so-fine and just plain funky eats in the Cape Fear region. We cover all sorts of edible tidbits: restaurant buzz, interesting ingredients (and how to use them), recipes, great deals and more.